Ring display device

ABSTRACT

A spring-clip device for displaying ring-type jewelry is disclosed. The device comprises a single flat strip of material such as metal folded to form a top member and a bottom member wherein the top member is disposed above the bottom member at an angle of about 60* or less. A tongue projecting above the bottom member has a flat portion which passes through an opening in the top member when the top member is depressed, the opening in the top member being larger in area than the flat portion of the tongue. A ring, bracelet or other ring-type display device is held in position between the upper surface of the top member and the lower surface of the tongue. Also disclosed are means of assembling these spring-clip devices together to provide a large display for a plurality of rings, bracelets, etc.

United States Patent [191' 1 Apr. 3, 1973 Dotson 541 RING DISPLAY DEVICE I [75] Inventor: George L. Dotson, Bliss, Idaho [73] Assignee: Datson and Evans, Inc., Bliss, Idaho [22] Filed: Apr. 19, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 135,167

[52] U.S. Cl. ..248/450, 211/13, 248/451, 2481459 51 nu. Cl. ..A47b 97 /04 [58] Field of Search... ..2l 1/131 NS/751 2 187301),

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz V. Trask [5 7] ABSTRACT A spring-clip device for displaying ring-type jewelryis disclosed. The device comprises a single flat strip of material such as metal folded to form a top member and a bottom member wherein the top member is disposed above the bottom member at an angle of about 60 or less. A tongue projecting above the bottom member has a flat portion which passes through an opening in the top member when the top member is depressed, the opening in the top member being larger in area than the flat portion of the tongue. A ring, bracelet or other ring-type display device is held in position between the upper surface of the top member and the lower surface of the tongue. Also disclosed are means of assembling these spring-clip devices together to provide a large display for a plurality of rings, bracelets, etc.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDAPR3 m5 3. 724,799

mvrsmoa George Dofspn His ATfbh wey 1 RING DISPLAY DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field 7 various types of display devices for rings, bracelets and the like are known in the art. These devices, however, are not readily adaptable for single displays as well as multiple displays, nor are they susceptible to simple manufacturing techniques.

2. Prior Art Of the jewelry display devices known, one of the more recent developments is that of Eichhorn, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,713. This device comprises a resilient sheet material having one narrow end. The sheet material is formed in a loop, the narrow end passed through a slot in the broader end and then bent to form a tongue capable of holding a ring in place. Although this device is self-supporting, it does not lend itself to attachment to a card or tray for presenting a grouping of rings. Also, the Eichhorn device requires gripping of the device .in one hand in order to insert a ring with the other, thereby not lending itself to insertion of rings while located in a multiple display device.

Other types of display devices are described in U.S.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spring-clip display device for rings.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a spring-clip display device for rings.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a spring-clip display device for rings showing a ring inserted therein.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a spring-clip display device for rings.

FIG. 5 is an end view of a spring-clip display device for rings showing a ring inserted therein.

FIG. 6 is a perspective-view of a perforated strip for nesting said spring-clips and a perforated plate for receiving said perforated strips to provide a display for.

invention. In FIGS. 1 through it is illustrated as a free- Pat. Nos. 1,639,754 and 886,608. Both patents disclosed spring-like clips which require a separate sup- 7 port to form a display device.. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,639,754 a clip-loop similar to Eichhorn is utilized in conjunction with a card face to form a ring holder. U.S. Pat. No. 896,608 utilizes a slide-on clip which slides over an edge of a rigid support and holds a ring between the clip arm and the rigid support.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An integral, self-supporting, spring-like clip device for displaying ring-type jewelry such as rings, bracelets and the like has now been invented. The device com-. prises a single .flat strip or sheet of resilient material such as metal, plastic, or the like, preferably of uniform width, folded to provide a bottom member and a top member, preferably of about equal lengths. The folded device resembles a V laid sideways and the included angle between the flat top member and the bottom member, which acts as a support or base, is generally less than 60 and preferably less than 45.

A raised tongue is attached to the bottom member so that the tongue has a substantially flat portion spaced above the upper surface of the bottom member a sufficient distance to permita ring or other ring-type jewelry to pass therebetween. The flat portion of the tongue is preferably substantially parallel to the flat bottom member and is open at one end. The tongue is adapted to pass through an opening in the top member when said top member is depressed towards said bottom member. A ring may be inserted between the bottom surface of the tongue and the top surface of the top member so that it is held therebetween by the springaction of the top member trying to move away from the bottom member. v

The opening in the top member has a greater area than the flat surface of the tongue so that the tongue passes through said opening when said top member is depressed. In its normal unstressed condition the tongue preferably does not project above said top member.

Further description of the invention may be facilitated by reference to the accompanying drawings.

standing, selfsupporting device for displaying a single ring or bracelet while in FIGS. 6 and 7 it is shown in combination with a perforated strip for displaying several rings in a row, said perforated strip further coacting with a perforated plate for displaying several rows .of rings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the spring-clip display device is shown an open or undepressed condition. The spring-clip comprises a substantially flat top member 10 which has a substantially centrally located opening 11 sufliciently large to allow the substantially flat portion of tongue 12 to project therethrough when said top member 10 is depressed (see FIG. 3).

The top member 10 and base member 13 are formed from a continuous strip of material by folding same to form a folded edge 14 and to provide a top member and base member which preferably have substantially equal lengths. The strip from which saiddevice is made is preferably rectangular in shape having a substantially uniform width.

The manufacture of the device is a simple operation becauseof the final configurationof the device. The opening 11 and slot 15 are preferably punched or cut in the strip prior to folding. The tongue 12 is preferably formed by cutting a U-shape in the base and punching the U-shaped strip away. from the base to form tongue 12.

Although the spring-clip is useful without dimples 16 and lip 17 it is preferred that these elements are present. In the manufacture of the spring-clip it is preferred to form indentations or dimples 16 on either side of opening 11 and to crease base member 11 across its width to form lip 17 before folding. The strip is then folded so that the included angle between top member 10'and base member 13 is less than about and preferably less than 45 and generally lessthan 30 for commercial applications. v

In FIGS. 1 and 2 .lip 17 is shown as a flat member formed by a transverse crease in base member 13 wherein the lip flares away from top member 10. The

thereby facilitating insertion .of a-ring under tongue 12' and to seat in dimples 16.

Although the device is functional without slot 15 it is preferably present along fold 14 to accept a flap of a price tag or other marker or indicia for presenting theprice or other identification of the displayed object.

In the accompanying drawings the tongue .12 is shown in its preferred position facing the open portion of the device. Although tongue 12 could project toward fold 14 it preferably projects away from fold 14 because the deflection of the top member 10 is the greatest as the front edge 18 of top member 10, thereby offering the 'greatestopening between the underside of tongue 12 and. the upper surface of top member 10, facilitating insertion of a ring therebetween.

The free end of tongue 12 is spaced above base member 13 at least a sufiicient distance to admit passage of a ring between said tongue and top member 10 when said top member is depressed into contact with said base member 13. Also, it is preferred that the free end of tongue 12 haveat leastthe same spacing above base member 13 as any'other portion of tongue 12. Because tongue 12 contacts the interior surface of a ring it is preferred that the tongue be substantially straight along. its length and have a slightly concave transverse shape when viewed from above.

F I68. 3, 4 and 5 show rings, in phantom, in a springclip display device of this invention. FIG. 3 is a side, elevational view of the spring-clip with the top member havingbeen depressed sufficiently to admit a ring between it and the tongue 12. Once the ring is in place, top member 10 is released and moves away from bottom member 13 to cause indentations 16 to engage the exterior surface of the ring and force the interior surface of the ring against the lower surface of tongue 12, thereby securely holding the ring in a vertical position.

In FIGS. 3 and 5, tongue 12 is shown having a slightly dishedor concave upper surface and a convex lower surface. This shape is preferred to give the tongue a Opening 19, shown in FIG. 4, under tongue 12, also facilitates contact between indentations 16 and the ring being held; If the walls of the ring are especially thick and of small diameter the ring may pron'ude slightly through opening 19.

It is advantageous particularly to have a large opening 11 in the top member. It facilitates manufacture of the spring-clip inasmuch as the tongue does not require threading through a narrowslot and it facilitates holding rings of various sizes and thicknesses.

Indentations 16 are located along the edges of opening 1 1 which are parallel to the sides or longer edges oftop member 10. Indentations 16 are dished so that their greatest depth below the upper surface of top member 10 occurs at the edges of opening 16. It is preferred that tongue 12 and indentations 16 be oriented so that a ring secured'm the clip will be substantially parallel to folded edge 14, as shown in FIG. 4.

The dimensions of a spring-clip of the type shown in the attached drawings are not critical. It is preferred p 4 that the distance from edge 18 to folded edge 14,

- length of the device, be longer than the transverse distance, the width of the device, Although the width,

one-fourth the diameter of the largest ring or bracelet to be held. Also, it is preferred that the length of tongue 12 be sufliciently great to overlap at least about onehalf the width of a ring or bracelet to be held. A typical commercial spring-clip designed primarily for holding rings has a tongue surface of about 3/16 inch by 3/16 inch in contact with a ring and a width of about inch and a length of about 1 inch, an opening in the topv member of about 5/16 inch in width by 6/16 inch. These dimensions may be varied considerably without affecting the functionality of the device and are merely illustrative of the size of one commercial display device.

Although bracelets can be held in spring-clip devices sized especially for rings, it is generally preferred that bracelet display devices be of a larger size. Furthermore, while bracelets can be held satisfactorily in spring-clip devices designed for rings, the stabilizing benefits of indentations 16 are not utilized because of the large radius of curvature of the bracelet. This can be overcome, to some extent, by extending indentations 16 from each edge of opening 11 to the outer edges of top member 10. It is preferred, generally, however, that indentations 16 be dished elements which do not extend from opening 11 to the outer edges of the device.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate means for grouping individual spring-clips to provide display means for a plurality of jewelry objects. The individual spring-clips have the advantage of holding a ring for viewing which clip may be left in place even while the object being held therein is handled and inspected by a customer. However, the novel individual spring-clip devices of this invention may be readily attached to an elongated perforated stripto display a plurality of jewelry objects In a row.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate one preferred means of attaching individual spring-clips to a perforated strip 20.

Perforated-strip 20 is illustrated as being capable of nesting or grouping four individual spring-clips, however, the strip may be any desired length and hold any desired number of individual spring-clips.

The spring-clip is illustrated as being locked into perforated strip 20. Opening 21 is sized so that it is slightly wider than, but not as long as a spring-clip to be secured to strip 20. Protrusion 22 projects a proper distance to engage the vertical portion of tongue 12 when the interior of folded edge 14 is substantially in contact with edge 23 of a strip 20. The rear. portion of base member 13 is below strip 20 while the forward portion thereof (lip 17) contactsthe upper surface of strip 20. The spring-like nature of the spring-clip permits it to be slipped into a locking arrangement with strip 20. The spring-clip is preferably removed, from strip 20 by raising up on edge 18 of upper surface 10, thus freeing locking-action and allowing springclip to drop free of strip 20. v

The distance between the forward edge of protrusion 22 and edge 23 should not be greater than the distance between the. vertical portion of tongue 12 and the interior of folded edge 14, and it may be slightly smaller,

and the juncture between tongue 12 and the upper surface of base member 13. Protrusio'n 22 can extend the width of opening 21, however, it is preferred that protrusion 22 be about the same width as tongue 12 so that protrusion 22 will have a spring-like action also when strip 20 is made of resilient material.

Perforated strip 20 may be attached to plate 24 by flexing strip 20 into an arc and slipping opposite ends 25 and 26 through openings 27 and 28 to underlie the plate sections between openings 27 and 28 and the outer edges of the plate. Openings 27 and 28 may be of any given shape, however, the opening must be longer than the width of strip 20. The openings 27 and 28 are preferably as wide as the spring-clip attached to strip 20 so that the portion of the spring-clip which is underneath strip 20 can be accommodated within said openings. The same is true of openings 29 and 30, although these openings donot have to be as long as openings 27 and 28. The length of openings 29 and 30 is preferably about half the length of base member 10 of the spring-clip which it is to accommodate.

Projections 31 found in openings 27, 28, 29 and 30 protrude into said openings only a short distance and may be omitted especially if the spring-clip does not contain a slot 15. The distance projections 31 protrude into the openings are about the same as the depth of slot in the folded edge 14, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7.

Although it is preferred to have openings 29 and 30 present for each spring-clip attached to a strip 20, such openings are not essential to the utility of plate 24 for use in combination with strip 20.

Strips may be grouped by sliding same into a tray which has curled edges which overlap edges and 26 of a strip. The width of the tray would be substantially the same as the lengthof strips 20 while'the length of said tray would be determined by the number of strips it was to accommodate.

The materials of construction may be varied; metals, plastics and other rigid, resilient materials are useful. Metals such as brass and steel are, particularly useful because of their spring-like qualities when in thin, sheet form.

Commercial articles are frequently covered with cloth or flocked with nylon or other material to provide a surface which does not mar the jewelry objects being held.

Although the instant invention has been described hereinabove by reference to specific embodiments, it is not intended that the invention be limited solely thereto, but to include all the variations and modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. a spring-clip device for displaying ring-type jewelry comprising:

a. a flat, elongated strip of resilient material having a fold substantially intermediate its ends to form a substantially flat base member and a substantially flat top member disposed at an angle of less than .about to said base member; said base member comprising a pair of flat upper surfaces, a rear flat surface contiguous with said fold and a forward flat surface bent farther away from said top member than said rear surface. b. a tongue member attached to and pro ecting above said base member, said tongue member having a ring-holding portion substantially parallel to the flat upper surface of said base member and spaced above said base member a sufficient distance to allow the wall of a jewelry ring to pass between the lower surface of the ring-holding portion of said tongue member and the upper surface of said flat top member when said top member is deflected towards said bottom member;

c. an opening in said top member of greater area than the area of the ring-holding portion of said tongue member to permit said tongue member to pass therethrough when said top member is deflected. 

1. A SPRING-CLIP DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING RING-TYPE JEWELRY COMPRISING: A. A FLAT, ELONGATED STRIP OF RESILIENT MATERIAL HAVING A FOLD SUBSTANTIALLY INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS TO FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BASE MEMBER AND A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT TOP MEMBER DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE OF LESS THAN ABOUT 60* TO SAID BASE MEMBER; SAID BASE MEMBER COMPRISING A PAIR OF FLAT UPPER SURFACES, A REAR FLAT SURFACE CONTIGUOUS WITH SAID FOLD AND A FORWARD FLAT SURFACE BENT FARTHER AWAY FROM SAID TOP MEMBER THAN SAID REAR SURFACE. B. A TONGUE MEMBER ATTACHED TO AND PROJECTING ABOVE SAID BASE MEMBER, SAID TONGUE MEMBER HAVING A RING-HOLDING PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE FLAT UPPER SURFACE OF SAID BASE MEMBER AND SPACED ABOVE SAID BASE MEMBER A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE TO ALLOW THE WALL OF A JEWELRY RING TO PASS BETWEEN THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE RING-HOLDING PORTION OF SAID TONGUE MEMBER AND THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID FLAT TOP MEMBER WHEN SAID TOP MEMBER IS DEFLECTED TOWARDS SAID BOTTOM MEMBER; C. AN OPENING IN SAID TOP MEMBER OF GREATER AREA THAN THE AREA OF THE RING-HOLDING PORTION OF SAID TONGUE MEMBER TO PERMIT SAID TONGUE MEMBER TO PASS THERETHROUGH WHEN SAID TOP MEMBER IS DEFLECTED. 